NT Authority System Error and shut down

[Stephen]

My system (XP Home) suddenly started experiencing an error
which reads NT Authority System Error and must shut down
in 30 seconds....which it does. It's worked fine for some
time and no new programs have been installed. What gives?

 

[Trafton]

Hi Stephen,

You are infected with W32/Sasser.worm or its variant, W32/Sasser.worm.b.

The first step to take is to update your machine with the latest patches.
You can do this at the following site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Then, you need to remove the worm. This can be accomplished using McAfee's
Stinger program. Stinger can be downloaded here:

http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

Next, you should get a good antivirus program. You can find a free program
called AVG here:

http://www.grisoft.com/

Last but not least, turn on the firewall that comes with your Windows
installation. If you do not have Windows XP, you can get ZoneAlarm, a free
firewall, here:

http://www.zonealarm.com/

This, along with frequent Windows Updates, should prevent future infection.

Hope this helps. Feel free to post back if you need any more assistance.

Sincerely,
Benjamin Johnstone-Anderson
Microsoft MVP - Windows Security
Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply!
Security Manifest: www.msmvps.com/trafton/

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My system (XP Home) suddenly started experiencing an error
which reads NT Authority System Error and must shut down
in 30 seconds....which it does. It's worked fine for some
time and no new programs have been installed. What gives?

Congratulations! You have a virus!
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sasser.worm.html
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sasser.b.worm.html

There are removal instructions there for both versions
(including tools to help you.)
Know that even if you have the normal updates for Norton, the definitions
for "B" were added on May 1. You can go to Symantec's site and get the
manual update if you like.

If it starts to shutdown on you, click Start > Run, and enter "shutdown -a".
(no quotes.) That will stop the shutdown and let you continue fixing.

Note that Microsoft is not sending you patches in emails nor should you EVER
open attachments you did not expect in emails. You simply posted your
un-munged email address to the thousands of newsgroups that this is spread
to around the world and it has been "harvested".


My other suggestions to you include:

Please Notice that if you use AOL, you should at least upgrade to 9.0 or
greater before doing any of the fixes. I know you can get AOL 9.0 at almost
any convenience store, gas station, super market or other retail outlet in
the world, so this should not be a problem.


Turn on that firewall...
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/home/using/howto/homenet/icf.asp
(It has been reported that it now works with AOL 9.0+)


Make sure you have all the updates (critical) installed from:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
(Scan for updates, Review and Install)


Get rid of the spy/ad/mal-ware..
(Yes - using MORE than one of these..
I recommend at least the first three. Also..
UPDATE the definitions for them before using.)

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.net/

Lavasoft AdAware
http://www.lavasoft.de

CWSShredder
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

Hijack This!
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/

I also like "The Cleaner" and "SpywareBlaster" and "SpywareGuard".
- http://www.moosoft.com/
- http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/

The first is a PAY product, but useable for 30 days - it has found and
eliminated problems in the past the others did not. The latter two are
prevention mechanisms. I like SpywareGuard for those with enough processor
to have something running like antivirus software - and it prevents browser
hijacking quite well. SpywareBlaster is a FANTASTIC free product, I suggest
getting this after you cleanup and keeping it updated as well....

And Assortment of Others:
http://spywareinfo.com/

ALSO - Be sure to IMMUNIZE after you clean up. SpywareBlaster and Spybot
Search and destroy both have these features - use both!


After you cleanup your PC somewhat of spy/ad/mal-ware, verify your antivirus
software is updated and run a full scan of your computer. If you have no
antivirus software - get one NOW! Grisoft AntiVirus:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php


Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to about
80 to 120MB (seems to be an optimal size for the normal user)

- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section,
do the following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the
"Amount of disk space to use:" to something between 80MB
and 120MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right now.)
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to
"Delete all offline contents" (the checkbox) and click
OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 minutes or
more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer
- Re-open Internet Explorer.


Uninstall any software you do not use often/ever. (If you have something
installed but never use it, uninstall it.) If you go through Control
Panel -> Add/Remove Programs and see things you seldom if ever use, it is to
your advantage to remove it.


Also, if you are tired of Web Page Pop-Ups/Unders.. You could try the
Google Toolbar.
http://toolbar.google.com/


Stop loading applications at logon.. run MSCONFIG and look under the startup
tab for things you DON'T want to startup! Search the Internet with Google
to discover what things are safe to remove and what things may even be
malware infecting your computer.


Better control your email and lessen the amount of time you spend dealing
with SPAM:
SpamBayes
http://sourceforge.net/projects/spambayes/
or
Spamihilator.
http://www.spamihilator.com

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Apparently, your PC is infected with the "Blaster Worm". Use the following
tools to remove it, then promptly update your PC with the Critical Updates
available form the Windows Update website.

If your computer is constantly attempting to shutdown
or reboot, quickly go to:

Start > Run and type: CMD , and hit enter.
This opens the Command Prompt window.

Then type: shutdown -a , and hit enter.

This should halt the rebooting problem.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Then immediately turn-on Windows XP's built-in Firewall:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

Special note if you use AOL:

America Online installs its own connection settings that override
the ones that come with Windows XP. America Online's
connection settings don't include a way to turn on Windows XP's
built-in firewall.

Visit the following web site for instructions on downloading
a FREE firewall program for your computer.

Ref: http://www.updatexp.com/free.html

A tool is available to remove Blaster worm and Nachi worm infections from computers
that are running Windows 2000 or Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=833330

What You Should Know About the Blaster Worm and Its Variants
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp

3 Steps to Help Ensure your PC is Protected
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


| My system (XP Home) suddenly started experiencing an error
| which reads NT Authority System Error and must shut down
| in 30 seconds....which it does. It's worked fine for some
| time and no new programs have been installed. What gives?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

If you connected the PC to the Internet without having first
enabled a firewall, without having first installed an antivirus
application with current virus definition files, and before installing
the KB824146 Hotfix, you're very likely to get infected from any of
the thousands of PCs on the Internet that are constantly broadcasting
the Blaster and/or Welchia worms. It only takes a few seconds of
exposure.

To stay on-line long enough to get the necessary updates, patches,
and removal tools, click Start > Run, and enter "shutdown -a" when the
next RPC countdown begins. This will abort the shut down. Also, make
sure you've enabled a firewall before starting, to preclude any more
intrusions while getting the updates/patches/tools.

MS04-012 Cumulative Update for Microsoft RPC-DCOM
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;828741

What You Should Know About the Blaster Worm
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp

W32.Blaster.Worm a.k.a. W32/Lovesan.Worm
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.blaster.worm.html

W32.Blaster.Worm Removal Tool
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.blaster.worm.removal.tool.html

W32.Welchia.Worm a.k.a. W32/Nachi.Worm
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.welchia.worm.html

W32.Welchia.Worm Removal Tool
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.welchia.worm.removal.tool.html

McAfee AVERT Stinger
http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=stinger


Bruce Chambers

--
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